Solar panel wire management system and method

a technology for solar panels and wire management, applied in the field of solar panels, can solve the problems of cumbersome and laborious installation and erode, unsightly arrangement of exposed wires and cables, etc., and achieve the effects of cleaner installation, faster work, and more efficient installation

Pending Publication Date: 2020-10-29
BAIRD DOUG
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]This invention is directed to a wire management system for solar panel installations. The system allows the installer to work faster, more efficiently, and with a cleaner install without allowing wires to hang down and touch the hot roof.

Problems solved by technology

They are cumbersome and labor intensive to install and erode over time.
The result is an unsightly arrangement of exposed wires and cables that can be seen by the owner.

Method used

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  • Solar panel wire management system and method
  • Solar panel wire management system and method
  • Solar panel wire management system and method

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0017]This invention solves the problem of exposed, disorganized wiring in solar panel installations by providing a wire management “tray”300 depicted in FIG. 3. This tray, preferably constructed from a piece of bent or extruded rust-resistant metal such as aluminum or stainless steel, include a wall 302 configured for mounting against surface 103 of rail 102. The tray 300 further includes a bottom 304 that transition upwardly to an S-shaped edge 306, leaving a gap dimensioned to receive the loose wires to and from each collector panel. The wall 302 may include spaced-apart holes enabling fasteners 308 to connect the tray to rails 102. The tray my further include a plurality of spaced apart holes, slots, or cut-outs to facilitate water drainage.

[0018]FIGS. 4A-D are drawings that illustrate one possible set of dimensions, which are in millimeters. While the article can be any length, the length of 610 mm (35.827 inches) is selected to be just less than a 36″ wide panel, such that 2 t...

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PUM

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Abstract

A wire management system for solar panel installations includes elongated members, each with a length and back, bottom and front panels. The front panel is angled toward the back panel so as to provide a gap into a elongated channel configured to receive electrical wiring and connectors associated with the solar panel installation. The various panels may be flat but for the transitions, which are smooth and continuous. The elongated member may be extruded from a single piece of sheet metal, and the bottom panel may include holes or slots to drain water. The back panel may include holes to receive fasteners for mounting the back panel against an existing rack or rail associated with the solar panel installation. Also disclosed is a method of organizing the wiring associated with a solar panel installation including a plurality of solar panels mounted to racks or rails fastened to a roof surface.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates generally to solar panels and, in particular, to a system for managing the cables and wires that interconnect multiple solar panels, including solar panels used for rooftop installations.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Rooftop solar panel installations typically use metal rails to mount multiple panels in arrays. As shown in FIG. 1, such installations may use racking rails 102, typically constructed of extruded aluminum, which have a lengthwise upper groove 104 and a lengthwise side groove 104. Both of these grooves may include opposing lips such as 108, 110, to provide surfaces to retain other mounting components. For example, upper lengthwise groove 104 may be configured to receive L-shaped clamps 112 to hold solar panels 120 against the upper surfaces of the rails 102 using threaded fasteners 113. Similarly, side groove 106 may include lips 107, 109 to retain an L-shaped component 114 that uses a fastener 116, 118 to secure the ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H02S40/36H02S20/23H02S99/00
CPCH02S20/23H02S99/00H02S40/36Y02E10/50Y02B10/10H02S40/30
Inventor BAIRD, DOUG
Owner BAIRD DOUG
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